On the north slope of Knock Hill – because the land has never been ploughed, it is still clearly visible – are traces of a track, which continues the straight road from Auchenblae . This, almost certainly, Roman Road, was for soldiers marching, and the line chosen, for long term use, is far too steep. Plus the chosen crossing point at the Bervie Water, allied to the watercourse modification work the Romans undertook, meant that the crossing was repeatedly destroyed in “spates”.
When the Romans, with Emperor Serverus in person, came again, in about 210 AD to incorporate our lands into their empire, they camped at Kair and crossed the Bervie Water there too – to the south of Knock Hill. Their earlier “obsession” with straight roads was misplaced hereabouts.
